RALEIGH, N.C., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Exide Electronics Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: XUPS), the world's largest dedicated developer of power management and power protection solutions, today announced the addition of 525 new value-added reseller (VAR) business partners that will carry the company's line of Powerware(R) uninterruptible power systems (UPS), OnliNet(R) workstation and network power management software products and PowerCare(R) services.
According to Randy Tart, reseller program manager for Exide Electronics, this unprecedented channel growth is directly attributable to the overwhelming acceptance of the company's new "MORE" (More On-line Revenue from Exide) VAR market support program, introduced in May at COMDEX Spring-Windows World Exposition in Atlanta.
"Our original goal was to sign up 500 qualified VARs by Sept. 30, so we've achieved in two-and-a-half months what we had set out to accomplish in five months," said Tart. "Based on the stunning early response to MORE, we now believe our preliminary estimates will triple to 1,500 new computer resellers and network integration specialists selling Exide Electronics' power management solutions by the end of 1993. With the VAR program running ahead of schedule, we will also accelerate the formation of a VAR Council which will continue to ensure that channel needs are met expeditiously."
Exide Electronics' MORE VAR program includes three primary components: market development funding, training and certification programs and ongoing market and technical support. Before launching MORE, Exide Electronics conducted preliminary research which showed that the channel would be most amenable to the market development funding (MDF) component of the program. This element of the program provides VARs with turnkey marketing programs that can be customized and automatically implemented by Exide Electronics on behalf of the reseller. Program options include the development and distribution of direct mail materials, Exide Electronics promotional items, telemarketing services, and even the use of Exide Electronics' trade show booths, including associated freight costs.
MORE THAN 50 PERCENT OFFER UNIX SOLUTIONS
Paralleling the company's strategic focus in high-performance workstations and local-area network (LAN) markets, 58 percent of Exide Electronics' new VAR business partners offer UNIX platform solutions and 70 percent support DOS, DOS/Windows and OS/2 environments. Primary applications addressed by Exide Electronics' resellers include computer- aided design/computer-added manufacturing (CAD/CAM), point of sale (POS), inventory management, financial transaction management, and accounting.
"Based on our preliminary research, we know VARs were particularly interested in vendor business partnerships that provided flexible options to maximize margins while providing market development opportunities, product training and ongoing market and technical support," said Tart. "With MORE, we've combined the unsurpassed benefits of Exide Electronics' quality UPS products and network power management software with a matching market support program that is generating an exceptional response from the channel. The two elements have created a powerful business development tool for both Exide Electronics and our 525 new resellers. We look forward to the continued success of MORE through the end of 1993 and beyond."
Exide Electronics is the largest company in the world dedicated exclusively to developing, manufacturing and servicing a full line of power management and power protection systems. Headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., Exide Electronics responds to the power management needs of a broad range of businesses and institutions worldwide, including many Fortune 1000 companies. Exide Electronics' products and services are used for financial, medical, industrial, telecommunications, military, and aerospace applications -- wherever continuous power is essential to daily operations.
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/CONTACT: Karin Cram, Exide Electronics Group, Inc., 919-870-3239, or Chris Clark, Creamer Dickson Basford, 212-887-8029/
(XUPS)

CO: Exide Electronics Group, Inc. ST: North Carolina IN: CPR SU:
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